Wanderlust – Exploring The French Riviera

Happy hump day folks!! This week is about to get that little bit better with some gorgeous Wanderlust, as we head off on a road trip to explore the breathtaking French Riviera on the Mediterranean coast of south eastern France with Christina Sarah Photography. In case you’ve missed any of the wanderlust series you can catch up here.

Wanderlust – Exploring The French Riviera

The French Riviera on the Mediterranean coast of south eastern France includes some seriously glamorous beach resorts such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco. This chic coastline had me from the second I stepped off the plane and today I’ll be taking you on a road trip you’ll never forget!

Cassis

Stepping off the plane in Marseille we wasted no time in heading to our first destination Cassis, which was on the way to our beautiful hotel. This quaint Mediterranean fishing port which is overlooked by a centuries-old château was a treasure trove of sidewalk cafes looking out over the beautiful clear blue ocean (why not enjoy THE best gelato from world famous Amorino). The pastel coloured buildings and cute boats make this a picture perfect town. Don’t forget to try their famous white wine!

St Tropez

Saint-Tropez is a coastal town on the French Riviera and was our next point of interest. Famous for its jet-set lifestyle, the harbour is always full of amazing yachts. Artists fill the harbour and side streets with their amazing talents making the perfect mix of traditional and 21st-century living. Head down the back streets to find great coffee and enjoy street entertainment such as the locals playing their summer boules. Fancy a bit of Chanel or Dior shopping, then here is the place to do it… Tres Chic!

Saint-Raphaël

Saint-Raphael was picturesque to say the least, we stumbled upon this little town one evening after dinner and had to return the next day to explore. We fell in love with its stunning sandy beach with crystal clear water just minutes away from the shops and hustle and bustle. It was fabulous to be shopping one minute and cooling off in the sea the next… where else can you say you can do that?

Le Lavandou

It was Le Lavandou for ice-cream and an impromptu anniversary shoot with my parents who were celebrating their pearl wedding anniversary. We spent the day wandering through the quaint cobbled streets, visiting the sweet chapel and enjoying ice cream in the sunshine. There were so many restaurants, ice cream parlours and chic boutiques to discover. A wonderful French town with something for everyone.

Port Grimaud

We spotted Port Grimaud on the map and decided to explore this village by boat. The boat can be caught each hour at the entrance of the port and takes you on the perfect scenic route allowing you to discover this pretty village from a whole new perspective. With sneak peaks of the yacht lifestyle it was a boat ride to remember!

Cannes

Now Cannes has to be our favourite discovery. Famed for its international film festival this has to be the most chic resort I’ve ever visited. Its coastline is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and palatial hotels. From the stunning beach to the famous boutiques Cannes misses nothing off its list. People-watching was a very interesting activity and the hotel-lined La Croisette provides a fine promenade.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is situated in The Beverly Hills of The French Riviera. If you plan to visit the French Riviera the Palace of the Côte d’Azur is not to be missed! The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild overlooks the Bay of Villefranche and the Bay of Beaulieu and is located just 10 kilometres from Nice and Monaco and 800 metres from the Villa Kérylos.

The musical gardens will keep you mesmerised for hours, you can even enjoy a lovely afternoon break in their tea room which boasts an unrestricted view of the bay.

Not only can you enjoy the gardens of this prestigious Villa you can also enjoy a self-guided audio tour. Each room of the villa was more luxurious than the last and the views were the best I’ve ever seen!

The view from just outside Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild stopped me in my tracks! I knew in that moment that I had found paradise. I would love to live on The French Riviera one day but mostly my dream is to photograph a beautiful wedding at this divine venue, wow what a treat that would be!

Thoughts on “Wanderlust – Exploring The French Riviera”

Lovely Travelogue Christina, This is “my” patch, and I know all these places so well! The Villa Ephrussi is indeed a photographer’s dream and it was my pleasure to conduct a wedding there one stormy night in July.
Saint-Raphael is probably one of our favourite towns on the coast, it’s alive year round and, as you say, quite beautiful, while Les Issambres is part of our commune. I actually tried to sell that villa complex a few years ago before I became a celebrant!
Thank you for this.

Hi Celia, thank you for your lovely comment!! So glad you liked my travelogue especially as you know all the places. It’s just so beautiful on the French Riviera… dreamy! I was just in Saint-Raphael the other week having dinner at the lovely Thai restaurant have you tried it? The Villa Rothschild really is stunning, so wonderful you were there in July, I hope the storm wasn’t too bad. It would be great to meet you one day maybe in Saint-Raphael 😉 Merci x